A question I am often asked is ‘how can I help my child get ready for year 11?’ and in the conversation that follows, several concerns are voiced by parents. For example, ‘he failed his year 10 mock’, ‘ she just doesn’t seem to understand how to write the answers’ or ‘it’s all very different…

For many students, GCSE English can feel a bit like trying to guess what’s going on inside the examiner’s head. Unlike maths or science, there isn’t usually one single “correct” answer to the reading questions. Two students can read exactly the same extract and write completely different responses, yet both can achieve high marks. The…

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “They’ve always been fine at English. Why are they suddenly struggling?”, you’re certainly not alone. It’s one of the most common questions parents ask me. English, alongside maths and science, is one of the core GCSE subjects. A pass (Grade 4 or above) is required for most sixth forms, colleges…